Life's a Beach

A Day in the Life: March 28th


(Aged 14)
Wea. Clear                                   SAT. MARCH 28, 1896               Ther.  40

Pa went to Jamestown.  Got me a pair of crutches.

A day at the beach with Lil, daughter Ruthie and the grandchildren (Dad center).  Allen far right with elevated shoe.

(Aged 16)
Wea. cloudy                                MON. MARCH 28, 1898               Ther.

In morning went over on the other place and got some shingle + Bert Bingham and I began shingling the corn house on the Webster Place.  We are to have a dollar a piece.  Stayed all night with Bert.


(Aged 17)
Wea.                                             TUE. MARCH 28, 1899               Ther.

In A.M. Randsom + I cut sugar wood and gathered sap in P.M. we split the wood and I boiled sap.  Worked all day as I didn’t have to go to school on account of regent’s examination.


(Aged 18)
Wea.                                              WED. MARCH 28, 1900                 Ther.

Rode to school with Gordon.  Had an examination in Advanced English + English Composition.  Ma and Rollie went over to grandma’s.  Got a letter from Ellen King.


(Aged 19)
Wea.                                              THU. MARCH 28, 1901                Ther.

NO ENTRY AGAIN UNTIL MAY 22nd


(Aged 20)
Wea.                                               FRI.  MARCH 28, 1902             Ther.

Drew a load of hay.  Went to factory. Grandma went over to pa’s.


(Aged 21)
Wea.                                              SAT.  MARCH 28, 1903                  Ther.

NO ENTRY MADE AGAIN UNTIL MAY 1st

***********

Editor's Note: Since we did not know the story of how Allen hurt his leg we asked the cousins and were told to the best of their collective memory that Allen stepped in a "cow hole" when he was young and trapped his foot.  In pulling him free from this position his foot was badly broken but no one sought medical attention and it became infected. 

I heard this story a few weeks ago and hadn't shared it yet but then the mention of crutches on this day in 1896 made it a likely opportunity.  However, just this week, after much sorting (still no where near done)  I took the time to read something I found that my grandmother Mabel wrote.  She tells a slightly different story which makes one wonder if the complete and true story ever was known...

Reading her account reminded me of something else she wrote that I read a few months ago about her hurting herself as a child.  It makes me appreciate Allen's young experience and his response to Mabel's injury all the more.

The question:

“Did you ever have stitches or broken bones?”

Mabel: “Oh yes - I fell out of a buggy in the Big Barn.  Father + Mother drove 7 miles to Kennedy to Dr. Purcell who set it.  Coming home the horse ran away.  Pulled my Dad out of the buggy.  Dragged him a long way but he hung on to the lines + stopped the horse.  The horse had become frightened at a steam engine".



Um, wow that would have been something to see.